Adoption success in York
Thanks to the efforts of social workers in York and adoptive parents across the country there are currently no children and young people from York waiting for adoption.
Because the council’s area is geographically small, York children needing adoption are placed outside York by City of York Council’s Adoption Team and approved adoptive parents in York are matched with children from across the country. Mary McKelvey, Adoption Service Manager, stressed that this arrangement means that there are still lots of children from outside the city – particularly siblings and children over the age of three – who are looking for loving homes.
She explained: “It’s great news that we don’t have any children from York who are waiting to find permanent loving homes at present. This is down to the hard work of the social work teams in York and adoptive parents across the country with whom we have placed children. However, there are hundreds of children across the country who are still waiting to be adopted and I would urge anyone considering adoption to get in touch to find out more.”
For more information on adopting in York visit www.york.gov.uk/adoption, call 01904 553525 email adoption@york.gov.uk or visit ‘Adoption and Fostering York’ on Facebook
Changes to traffic lanes on Clarence Street
Clarence Street proposals – click to access
Following consultation with residents and businesses a new scheme to improve one of York’s key city centre bus routes is set to go to a Cabinet Member meeting for final approval.
The proposals include introducing a longer lane for vehicles turning left into Lord Mayor’s Walk from Clarence Street, so that straight-through/ right-turning traffic is not held up by queuing vehicles.
Traffic signals will be changed so that the left turn from Clarence Street into Lord Mayor’s Walk gets additional ‘green time’.
The scheme is supported through part of the £3.5 million Better Bus Area Fund (BBAF) awarded to the council from the Government’s Department for Transport in 2012.
The five-week consultation took place in September and October and asked for views on the proposed measures on Clarence Street to help improve the reliability of bus services on the approach to York city centre.
The findings of the consultation will now go before the Cabinet Member for Transport’s public Decision Session on Friday 21 November for final approval.
The improvements will help three of York’s five most frequent bus services, specifically routes 1, 5 and 6 which can experience some delays on Clarence Street, Gillygate and St Leonards Place.
Huntington Road chicanes to be reinstated?
Huntington Road proposals click to access
City of York Council is proposing to reinstate chicanes (traffic calming measures) on Huntington Road, near the former Sessions printers, which were temporarily removed during the development of new homes in the area.
There was a requirement to remove the existing priority give-way measures (chicanes) during the development as they would have caused problems for construction traffic and access onto Huntington Road.
Temporary speed cushions were installed prior to the work commencing, as required under the planning conditions. However, in the long term it was always understood that the chicanes would be restored when most of the construction work was completed and suitable new positions had been agreed.
To help identify where the replacement chicanes would be best positioned, the new street layout was assessed and the proposals were put forward for local consultation with local residents, parish councillors, local businesses, relevant ward councillors and relevant road user organisations.
Following this consultation, it is recommended that the council reinstates the chicanes and cost of installing these will be met by the developer Ben Bailey Ltd.
Local Liberal Democrats have criticised the limited public consultationon plans to reinstate chicanes on Huntington Road.
The plans, which were announced today and are due to be decided on next week, would reinstate chicanes on Huntington Road, near the former Sessions printers. The chicanes were removed during the development of new homes in the area. However, only a limited public consultation took place on the plans despite the number of cars which use the road. Liberal Democrat councillors had requested that consultation letters be sent out to a much wider area than just those properties adjacent to the scheme.
Cllr Keith Orrell, Councillor for Huntington and New Earswick, commented: (more…)
Lendal Bridge private report published.
click for full report
A cross-party review into the Lendal Bridge closure was blocked tonight despite the emergence of a damning new report into the botched trial.
A review of the controversial trial was requested by Lib Dem councillors in June, but blocked by Labour members.
However Cllr Andrew Waller, the new chair of the Economic & City Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee, made a fresh review proposal. This proposal was defeated tonight by 4 votes to 3 with Green and Labour councillors voting against. Westfield Councillor Stephen Burton again voted against holding an inquiry
Lib Dem, Conservative and Independent Labour Group members supported the review proposal.
The issue is now likely to be discussed at the December Council meeting when opposition Councillors are expected to press for all drivers, who had been fined, to be written to and advised of their right to claim a refund. The December deadline for claims is also likely to be extended.
Whether we will see a proper inquiry into the failings before the May elections remains to be seen. However, the content of the independent report means that questions will have to be answered sooner or later
Good jobs news for York
click to access
York Council welcomes fall in number of residents claiming Jobseekers Allowance and benefits
City of York Council has today welcomed figures from the Office for National Statistics and the Department for Work and Pensions which show a reduction in the number of people claiming both Jobseekers Allowance and benefits in the city.
Today’s figures released by the Office for National Statistics have shown that the number of people claiming Jobseekers allowance has fallen for the eighth consecutive month.
The statistics show there to be 1,318 claimants in York, a decrease of 57 from last month.
The claimant count represents 1.0 per cent of the working population contrasts to the regional average which stands at 2.8 per cent. York has had lower unemployment rates than the rest of the region for over 15 years now
The figures are also much lower than the national average which is currently 2.1 per cent. Today’s figures mean there are 877 less claimants than in October 2013 and that the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance has fallen by 40 per cent in the past year.
York has also seen a fall in the number of 18-24 year olds claiming Jobseekers allowance with today’s figures showing a reduction of 235 over the past year, a fall of 44.3 per cent.
Figures also released today by the Department for Work and Pensions have shown that the number of residents claiming benefits has also fallen. The statistics show the number of claimants in York as of May 2014 is 10,180, a fall of 490 since February.
The claimant count represents 7.6 per cent of the working population in York, which is lower compared to both the regional average (14.4 per cent) and the national average (12.9 per cent).
Wetherby Road – plans for materials recycling centre
Yorwaste have submitted a planning application to erect a waste transfer and recycling station at Harewood Whin
The station would be used to “bulk up” waste prior to it being transported to the new incinerator being built at Allerton Park
The applicant has agreed to unilaterally revoke earlier planning permissions for the erection of a composting operation in the southern section of the site and the erection of energy from Biomass Plant at the north western edge of the site.
51 objections to the plans have been lodged mainly by residents in the Rufforth area.
Most are concerned about the plants impact on the Green Belt.
The report, which will be considered by the Planning Committee next week, can be read here
NB The site was to have been used as a salvage and recycling centre under plans unveiled in 2011. It would have replaced the Beckfield Lane recycling centre. The Beckfield Lane site was later closed by the new Labour administration which chose to make no alternative recycling facilities available on the west of York.
Temporary traffic lights plan for St Helens Road junction – 18th/19th Novemner
Temp 3-way lights in operation at the junction of TadcasterRoad & St Helen's Road 18th & 19th Nov
— York Travel (@york_travel) November 12, 2014
York libraries update report
The first progress report since York’s libraries were taken over by a “Community Benefit Society” is to be publicly considered next week The Society holds exempt charitable status & is jointly owned by staff and the community.
The society receives a York Council taxpayer’s subsidy of £1.94
million each year but is expected to make savings of £50,000 next year.
The report reveal’s that, not only are visitor numbers down because of the central Library temporary closure, but book issues are also continuing to decline.
However EBooks and audio downloads are increasing rapidly.
From February 2015 a toy library service will be introduced. Parents, after selecting toys on line, will be able to pick them up from their nearest library. This service replaces the now defunct toy library bus.
The new Archives and Local History Library will open along with the rest of York Explore on 5th January 2015.
The report can be read by clicking here
Performance results can be read by clicking here
Liberal Democrat councillors are calling for an inquiry into the ‘Grand Departy’ music concert as part of a cross-party scrutiny review.
Meanwhile the minutes of two meetings of the Councils safety Advisory Group have confirmed that there was internal concern about the organisational arrangements for the concert.
Safety committee meeting July 2014 Click to read original minutes
The minutes suggest that, had the target audience numbers actually attended, then safety concerns could have been high.
The minutes of the meetings can be read by clicking the links below.
Safety Advisory Committee 30th June 2014 (pre concert)
Safety Advisory Group 23rd July 2014 (post concert)
Cllr Ian Cuthbertson, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, has submitted an official request for a scrutiny review into the “planning, promotion and delivery” of council organised events for the Tour De France.
Last week it was revealed that City of York Council overspent its budget for the Tour by £60,000 with the ‘Events and Festivals’ programme losing taxpayers £252,000.
The poorly received ‘Grand Departy’ music concert at Huntington Stadium was the single biggest loss. The event cost £206,000 to stage but disappointing ticket sales meant only £19,000 in revenue was brought in, producing an overall loss of £187,000.
Cllr Cuthbertsoncommented: